Mina
Diamond Member
DH and I just got back from a 4-day trip down to Phoenix. We had a great time...of course a little stressful and I slept poorly in the hotel, but I got to see a bunch of my friends and go to the symphony!
But the big news is that I petted the dog that bit me and set off PTSD for me.
The dog, DH's 100-lb Akita named Hutch, now lives with my inlaws in AZ. They took him when DH couldn't stand to put him down, as they are very familiar with him and his issues. Anyway, we were over at the inlaws' house for dinner Thursday night, and of course Hutch was there. They'd put him in the courtyard so as not to bother me, but after dinner I took a deep breath and told them it would be okay to let him out.
He came in and was thrilled to see DH. He mostly ignored me; just gave me a quick sniff and went back to DH. DH said he could tell Hutch recognized me. I told my MIL I'd like to pet him...sort of something I felt I needed to do. Closure, maybe? So I put my unbitten hand out. He came over and sniffed and slobbered it, and I petted his head and neck from there. I did the same with the bitten hand, and petted him some more. Then he went back to DH; I went and washed up because I really hate being slobbered on. I was proud of myself for being calm and not showing fear and petting the dog who messed up my hand and turned my life upside-down.
Saturday morning we had breakfast at the inlaws' house. Hutch wasn't interested in being petted, but slimed me anyways. I got him to sit and lay down in return for some of my breakfast. He acted really normal until we all went outside. Uncle Jim was the last one out, and shut the gate behind him. Hutch didn't get to come out (he runs away), so Jim reached through the gate to pet him. He barked and bared teeth and sort of lunged at Jim. Jim just scolded him, as he has a huge ill-behaved dog himself, but I was like, whoa! yeah, this dog is NOT okay, it was not just me.
I did have a really nice moment with my 3-year-old niece as well. During the summer she was at the inlaws' house and followed MIL out to the kennel...MIL didn't notice until niece had reached through the chain link and Hutch nipped her hand. Anyway, I was playing with niece; she heard Hutch outside and told me he couldn't come in because he bit her. She seemed sort of scared and sad and alone when she said it...I just looked back at her, put my arm around her, and said, "I know, sweetie, he bit me too." She got this quizzical look on her face and said, "You too?" "Yep, me too." Then she smiled a little and seemed to feel better, and we went back to playing. Amazing what simple validation of feelings will do, even at 3 years old. :smile:
But the big news is that I petted the dog that bit me and set off PTSD for me.
The dog, DH's 100-lb Akita named Hutch, now lives with my inlaws in AZ. They took him when DH couldn't stand to put him down, as they are very familiar with him and his issues. Anyway, we were over at the inlaws' house for dinner Thursday night, and of course Hutch was there. They'd put him in the courtyard so as not to bother me, but after dinner I took a deep breath and told them it would be okay to let him out.
He came in and was thrilled to see DH. He mostly ignored me; just gave me a quick sniff and went back to DH. DH said he could tell Hutch recognized me. I told my MIL I'd like to pet him...sort of something I felt I needed to do. Closure, maybe? So I put my unbitten hand out. He came over and sniffed and slobbered it, and I petted his head and neck from there. I did the same with the bitten hand, and petted him some more. Then he went back to DH; I went and washed up because I really hate being slobbered on. I was proud of myself for being calm and not showing fear and petting the dog who messed up my hand and turned my life upside-down.
Saturday morning we had breakfast at the inlaws' house. Hutch wasn't interested in being petted, but slimed me anyways. I got him to sit and lay down in return for some of my breakfast. He acted really normal until we all went outside. Uncle Jim was the last one out, and shut the gate behind him. Hutch didn't get to come out (he runs away), so Jim reached through the gate to pet him. He barked and bared teeth and sort of lunged at Jim. Jim just scolded him, as he has a huge ill-behaved dog himself, but I was like, whoa! yeah, this dog is NOT okay, it was not just me.
I did have a really nice moment with my 3-year-old niece as well. During the summer she was at the inlaws' house and followed MIL out to the kennel...MIL didn't notice until niece had reached through the chain link and Hutch nipped her hand. Anyway, I was playing with niece; she heard Hutch outside and told me he couldn't come in because he bit her. She seemed sort of scared and sad and alone when she said it...I just looked back at her, put my arm around her, and said, "I know, sweetie, he bit me too." She got this quizzical look on her face and said, "You too?" "Yep, me too." Then she smiled a little and seemed to feel better, and we went back to playing. Amazing what simple validation of feelings will do, even at 3 years old. :smile:
